January 14 - Fitness for the Mind

Life can be fast and challenging. The demanding lives we live create a lot of stress. Stress can cause illness. So when thinking of your health you need to start with fitness for the mind.

Meditation is exercise for your mind.

Too much stress, stress reduction, detach, let go, chillax - whatever you want to call it, you need to give your mind a break. There is no magic pill to eliminate stress. The answer is inside all of us. You need to go inside yourself to manage your stress. Meditation is a great way to do this.

There are great benefits to meditation:

• Improved concentration
• Less bothered by little things
• Better health
• Knowledge of yourself

Like anything worthwhile, meditation requires practice. To get the most from meditation you need to do it every day. This requires a place and time where you will not be disturbed.

1. Sit with a straight back. Don’t try to meditate lying down because you are likely to fall asleep. Meditation brings relaxation and peace but at the same time this is a dynamic peace. Meditation is quite different than the relaxation of sleep. When we really meditate, we are fully alert and conscious. Our sense of awareness is heightened. Afterwards you’ll have a positive feeling for the world and a renewed sense of dynamism.
2. Don’t eat before meditating. After a heavy meal your body will be lethargic with digestion.
3. It is not necessary to mediate in the lotus posture. It is fine to meditate in a chair, as long as the back is straight.
4. It is helpful to take a shower before meditating.
5. Burning incense and having a candle are not necessary, but they can add a little extra inspiration.
6. It is good to meditate early in the morning.

Try some meditation today.